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Small-eyed bee catfish

Akysis microps

Also known as Mini bee cat microps, Small eyed mini bee cat

FreshwaterFish

Small-eyed bee catfish (Akysis microps)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.4 in
3.5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg layer
Rarity
Rare
Family
Akysidae
Origin
Endau drainage, Malaysia

Overview

The small-eyed bee catfish is a tiny, gentle stream catfish for the bottom of a small, peaceful tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The small-eyed bee catfish spends its life half-buried in dim, tea-stained water, where sharp eyes are little use. Its name, small eye, records exactly that. Its sight has faded into the background while its barbels do the real work.

Caring for the small-eyed bee catfish

Give the small-eyed bee catfish around 11 gal (40 L) with fine sand to sink into, some crypts and wood. A soft, slightly stained look suits it. It buries in the sand by day and hunts by touch after dark, relying on its barbels far more than its eyes.

Keep it on the cooler side of tropical, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Give it clean water and a steady current that is gentle rather than fierce.

Feed small sinking and frozen foods at night, such as microworm, baby brine shrimp and frozen bloodworm. It feeds slowly, so it should not compete with fast, bold tank mates.

The small-eyed bee catfish is gentle and community safe. It is content in a small group of its own kind with other little, peaceful fish. Its fin spines can sting, so net it with care. It is a nocturnal egg layer without parental care, and its breeding has not been recorded in aquaria.

Good to know

The small-eyed bee catfish, Akysis microps, belongs to the stream catfish family Akysidae. It is one of the smaller bee catfishes and is also sold as the mini bee cat.

In the wild

The small-eyed bee catfish was found in the Endau river drainage of southeastern Peninsular Malaysia. It lives in a large, sandy stream with tea-colored water, a moderate current and stands of Cryptocoryne plants.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The small-eyed bee catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a small-eyed bee catfish need?

A small-eyed bee catfish needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a small-eyed bee catfish need?

A small-eyed bee catfish is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a small-eyed bee catfish eat?

A small-eyed bee catfish eats small sinking and frozen foods at night, such as microworm, baby brine shrimp and frozen bloodworm. It feeds slowly.

How big does a small-eyed bee catfish get?

An adult small-eyed bee catfish reaches about 1.4 in (3.5 cm).

How does a small-eyed bee catfish breed?

The small-eyed bee catfish is a nocturnal egg layer and gives its eggs no parental care. Its breeding has not been recorded in aquaria.

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